Variation in the Amount of Desoxyribose Nucleic Acid in Different Tissues of Tradescantia

Nucleic acid content and Chromosome morphology in Chrysanthemum

1. The DNA contents of twenty-eight different species and forms of Chrysanthemum have been measured by photometry. It is shown that there are large differences in DNA content between some species with identical chromosome numbers.

2. The DNA contents of natural polyploids are frequently not those expected when comparison is made with diploid forms of the same species. The DNA contents of induced polyploids are those expected.

3. Chromosome length and volume are positively correlated with DNA content.

4. The relationship between chromosome number, chromosome size, DNA content and gene number is considered, and it is suggested that the differences in DNA content may result from the presence of differing amounts of genetically inactive DNA in the chromosomes.

The composition and structure of isolated chromosomes

1. The preparation of isolated chromosomes from liver, kidney, and pancreas has been described. 2. It has been shown that there is no gross cytoplasmic contamination in these preparations. 3. In a microscopic study of isolated chromosomes the same chromosomes have been found in different tissues of the same organism. Since individuality is one of the main characteristics of chromosomes, there can be little doubt that the preparations do, in fact, contain isolated chromosomes. 4. A quantitative study of staining with crystal violet shows that this basic dye competes with histone for the phosphoric acid groups of the DNA in chromosomes. The displacement of histone by protamine has been demonstrated. 5. Preparation of histone-free chromosomes has been described. Removal of histone does not affect the microscopic appearance of chromosomes. 6. The non-histone or residual protein has been prepared from histone-free chromosomes. The quantity of residual protein in a preparation of chromosomes is correlated with the amount of cytoplasm in the cells from which the chromosomes were prepared. 7. The microscopic appearance of chromosomes depends upon the association of DNA with residual protein. 8. Evidence has been given that in a chromosome there are two DNA-containing nucleoproteins; in one DNA is combined with histone, and in the other it is combined with residual protein.

Some quantitative changes observed in Philosamia ricini pupal haemolymph during metamorphosis

1. The quantitative variations of the concentrations of uric acid, citrate, nucleic acids and total and acid-soluble phosphorus in the pupal haemolymph of Philosamia ricini during metamorphosis have been studied. 2. The mean value for total nitrogen in the haemolymph and total loss in weight of the insects during metamorphosis have also been recorded.

Microspectrophotometry of cell nuclei stained with the Feulgen reaction. IV. Formation of tetraploid nuclei in rat liver cells during postnatal growth

1. DNA contents of the individual parenchymal nuclei of rat livers during postnatal growth were estimated by microspectrophotometric apparatus, and different ploidy classes of nuclei were classified by their DNA contents. With the same material the total number of parenchymal nuclei in the liver was counted microscopically. 2. If the DNA content of nuclei encountered most frequently in several tissues represents the diploid class, the ploidy classes of the rat liver cell nuclei correspond to di-, tri-, tetra-, and octoploid, with the di- and tetraploid ones predominating considerably. 3. In suckling rats (below 25 gm. of body weight) the liver parenchyma is composed almost exclusively of cells with diploid nuclei, whereas in young rats (above 80 gm.), of tetraploid nuclei. In the growth stage between 25 and 80 gm., there is a remarkable replacement of the diploid nuclei by the tetraploid ones. However, in the liver of adult rats weighing more than 150 gm., any increase or decrease in the frequency of diploid and tetraploid nuclei is hardly observable. In such rats, the nuclear population of the liver parenchyma seems to reach a cell-ecological equilibrium which is considered to be a stable one. 4. It is shown that such nuclear populations and the total number of nuclei in a liver are controlled by the growth state, and not by the age. 5. The decrease in the total number of diploid nuclei and the increase in tetraploid nuclei in the growing livers of rats weighing from 40 up to 130 gm. can both be explained by the hypothesis that the tetraploid nuclei originate from the interphase diploid nuclei without involving mitosis. This hypothesis implies that mitosis is confined to the reproduction of diploid cells alone. 6. It is suggested that, in general, the synthesis of DNA does not necessarily result in the formation of visible mitotic chromosomes. 7. Mitotic time and generation time of diploid nuclei and the percentage of the tetraploidization from diploid nuclei are calculated and discussed.

DNA in gametogenesis and embryogeny in Tradescantia

A microphotometric study of various Feulgen-stained gametophytic and sporophytic nuclei of Tradescantia paludosa was made to test the hypothesis that DNA is maintained in multiples of a basic unit within all cells of an organism. A multiple relationship was found in all tissues analyzed. The lowest amount of DNA was found in gametophytic nuclei, approximately twice and four times this amount in sporophytic nuclei, and approximately three and six times this amount in endosperm nuclei. Intermediate amounts of DNA were found only in tissues presumably undergoing an interphase synthesis of DNA preceding either cell division or endomitosis. It is concluded that within the limitations of present methods of measurement, DNA amounts show a quantitative behavior which supports the "constancy" hypothesis. Such quantitative stability of DNA gives support to the concept that DNA is associated with the stable elements of the gene.